//------------------------------//
// New Student Worries 
// Story: Double Twilight Love 
// by Mystic Sunrise 
//------------------------------//

Twilight smiled as Kohaku returned to the castle, seemingly in a much better mood now. "I assume from your smile that everything is better now?"

Kohaku nodded, stretching and bowing. "Indeed, and I do apologize for the uproar earlier. It was not my intent."

Twilight sighed. "I know. This was not how I envisioned this happening or happening at all if I'm being honest. But what's done is done. This will keep Ponyille talking for weeks. Most ponies don't even know what a kitsune is, and those who do think you're nothing but a myth."

Kohaku just smiled wider, as he saw the scale on the princess's desk. "And I see you've met your resident dragon as well. She is rather nice, once you get past her tough exterior."

Twilight's eyes twitched. So it was what she had thought it was, as Twi gave it a confused look. "What is it? It looks like a scale."

Twilight nodded. "It's an eastern dragon scale. One lives in the river that runs by Ponyville. I believe I met her several days ago, but she was in pony form at the time. Why I do not know, or why she came to me at all."

Kohaku just smirked. "It might have something to do with a certain Pegasus you met earlier. And as much as I wish to, I cannot stay. I have to be home before the sun sets. My body is still acclimating to this world, and too much exposure too soon is dangerous."

Twilight made a mental note of that. Interesting. "Perhaps it is for the best that you and Pearl do not meet. At least for the time being. I just hope I can help her now. She was deathly afraid when she and her mother left."

Twi nuzzled her. "You'll be fine, love. Who better than the Princess of Friendship herself to help her? And you know Ponyville will make her welcome. Assuming she doesn't go crazy first."

Kohaku chuckled. "You're too late for that. No matter what world or universe it may be, Pearl is always crazy. You just need to learn to deal with it and roll with the punches. Literally."

That got a laugh out of everyone, as Kohaku steadied his breathing, before stepping through the portal. Twi sighed as she walked over as well. "And if I don't return as well, I'll be hearing it from someone."

Twilight rolled her eyes, before kissing her love. "They do care and are only worried about you. Never forget that."

Twi smiled and relaxed into the kiss. "I know. But can they be less stubborn about it?"

Twilight giggled, earning an annoyed snort from her girlfriend before she too stepped through the portal. She sighed as she disconnected the Journal from the machine that powered it all. Now, there was somepony who needed her, and this afternoon's events had changed things.





Pearl sighed as she finished setting up her room, flopping onto her bed as she did so. "At least this went right. Some first day in a new town. Least everypony is friendly."

She smiled. Despite everything else, everypony had been welcoming and nothing but friendly, not caring who her family was. Sure, being all but kidnapped by Pinkie Pie had been weird, but from talking to other ponies, it seemed to be normal for any new ponies in Ponyville.

Getting to meet all of the Elements of Harmony had been awesome. Pearl had been following their adventures since that fateful Summer Sun Celebration against Nightmare Moon. And Princess Twilight?

Pearl sniffed. So what if it was a fillyhood crush, she didn't care. Her love for the princess was real. Damn their age difference. Their talking together had only increased it for Pearl. and she'd never had a chance. Not even to confess her feelings. Any chance they could be something more than friends, crushed before she could even try. It was little consolation to know Twilight hadn't done it on purpose. But her heart would never belong to Pearl.

Pearl punched her pillow, taking her sorrow and frustration out the only way she knew. "Damn it all!" She looked over at her stuffed fox plushie. "Why did I have to fall for the smart, cute one?"

He had the sense to not offer his two cents. A wise choice when Pearl was like this. So what if she was past the age when fillies got rid of their stuffed animal friends, Pearl didn't care. Her fox had been her constant companion for as long as she could remember, through both the good and bad. And Pearl made sure to take good care of him, no matter how much she used him as a punching bag.

A knock on her door brought Pearl back to earth as she wiped her eyes. "Pearl. Are you alright?" Cirrus asked.

Pearl gulped down her problems for the moment. "Yeah, mom. I'm fine. Got my room set up at least."

Cirrus chuckled. "That's good dear. There is someone here to see you. I think you'll want to meet her."

Pearl rolled her eyes as she sat up. "Unless she brought a ton of ice cream, I doubt it."

Cirrus only smiled as she opened the door, revealing Princess Twilight with several buckets of ice cream floating in her magic. "I did in fact bring some. Your mother says these are your favorite flavors," the alicorn giggled.

Pearl eeped in shock as she fell off her bed, earning a giggle from her mother who took the treats. "I'll just put these away for later. You two play nice," and pranced off, earning a groan from her daughter.

Twilight rolled her eyes as she stepped into the room. "I hope you do not mind. But I felt this could not wait."

Pearl shook her head, flopping onto her bed once more. "Not like I could stop you, princess," she smirked, earning a giggle in return.

It was soon replaced, however, as Twilight's ears fell. "Pearl. I am so sorry about what happened earlier. It is not how I wanted your first day in Ponyville to go. If I had known it was going to happen, I would have said something."

Pearl bit her lip. She could feel the princess was being honest, and it helped ease her fears. "What was that thing? Kitsunes aren't real."

Twilight sighed as she sat down on the filly's bed as well. "They are very real, my faithful student. His name is Kohaku Forestsong, a good friend of mine. And a consistent pain in my flank as well."

Pearl giggled. "Do I need to worry about running into him again? I'd rather not if I can help it."

Twilight smiled. "That will be up to him and his family. He will not be around Ponyville constantly, but I feel you will meet him again. And I feel it will be good for both of you."

Pearl rolled her eyes. She doubted that. "Go figure. This town really is crazy!" She smiled as she looked out her window. "But I think I'm going to like it. Less to worry about than in Baltimare."

Twilight's smile widened slightly. "That's the spirit! And there is one more thing as well. Today has taught me something."

Pearl gave her a look. "What's that, princess?"

Twilight shook her head. "Our previous arrangement will need to be modified. I've already talked with your mother and Cheerilee. There is very little she can teach you."

Pearl nodded happily. "Yeah. Miss. Frizzle knew her stuff pretty well. She could be a pain when she was mad, but she did care. I actually miss her a little." Her brows rose. "But what does that have to do with anything? Miss Cheerilee doesn't seem that bad. Is she?"

Twilight chuckled. "No. But I feel you will not get all you need out of her. So..."

Pearl's breath hitched. Was Twilight asking what she thought she was? "Then...?"

Twilight's smile grew. "Pearl Rose. I want to make you my Personal Student. I've already talked to your mother about this, and she is more than happy to let you be. But I will not force you into this. This must be your choice."

Pearl was stunned, as she waited for the punch line. This couldn't be real, could it? But she could see the sincerity in Twilight's eyes. This was no joke. "But. Why me, princess? I'm nopony special. Definitely not someone to be your student."

Twilight shook her head with a gentle smile, as she wrapped a wing around the filly. "Never say that, Pearl. Anyone who says your not special is too stupid for their own good, and should be repeatadely be slapped upside the head."

Pearl blushed at the praise. It took only a few seconds for her to make up her mind. "YES! When do I start?"

Twilight giggled. "Give it a few days. I will still need to work out a schedule, and there is still so much of Ponyville for you to see." She winked. "Make some friends."

Pearl rolled her eyes. And there it was. "I swear that if this ends with me battling some ancient evil, princess, I blame you."

Twilight giggled. "Here is your first lesson, my Faithful Student. Stop calling me princess. No friend of mine should ever have to use my title. Use Twilight or miss. Sparkle if you can't use my actual name."

Pearl gulped. She had been afraid of that. "I'll try... Twilight."

Twilight nodded. It would take time for it to click. As the two headed down to the kitchen to celebrate, something nagged at her, and she could not stop thinking about it.

She had seen the way Pearl had looked at her all day. From the first moment, they had locked eyes. It went beyond simple admiration and respect, though those were there as well. Far beyond. It was the same look she had seen once before. On Mount Aris that fateful day.

The question then became. What did she do now? She remembered well the vision the Pearl had shown her and Twi. It could not be a coincidence this had happened as well. Both versions of Pearl would not be there unless there was a very good reason.